Lourdes 2011

Our next Pilgrimage takes place from 19 – 26 August 2011. Each year, the Catholic Association Hospitalité of Our Lady of Lourdes is responsible for coordinating the welcome and care of pilgrims, especially our assisted pilgrims, who come to Lourdes.

Assisted Pilgrims:
If you, or a friend/family member would like to come to Lourdes as an Assisted Pilgrim next year, please contact the Chief Doctor on: chief_doctor@catholicassociation.co.uk. Our Assisted Pilgrims are those who are ill or disabled, and would like to stay at the Accueil or a hotel, and will need assistance from our team of helpers. Financial help may be available, either through your Diocesan/Group Director, or through any member of the CA Hospitalité.

Volunteer Helpers:
Men and women of all ages and backgrounds come to Lourdes as volunteer helpers to answer Mary’s request for people to ‘come in procession’, but more importantly they come in response to the command of her son Jesus to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves (Gospel of Mark 12:29-31).These volunteer-helpers, who are pilgrims themselves, strive to encounter Jesus in each pilgrim, caring for their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. The CA Hospitalité includes doctors, nurses, and non-medical helpers: brancardiers (male) and handmaids (female).

If you would be interested, or know someone who would be interested in coming on Pilgrimage next year as a volunteer-helper, please let us know at: volunteer@catholicassociation.co.uk, and someone will be in contact with you as soon as possible. Minimum age for helping is now 17 and there is no maximum age. NB, if you are aged 17-25, you can be a part of the Young Helpers’ Group, (a supervised group staying in a separate hotel) please let us know on above email address. Although we are unable to include people under 17 as full volunteers under the terms of our insurance, we welcome enthusiastic younger people whose families are on the Pilgrimage and who are interested in coming as volunteers when they reach 17 and wish to see what volunteer work is like.

Additionally, if you have children, the CA organises the Helpers' Children's Programme (HCP), which offers a programme of activities for the children (0 - 16) of helpers working on the Pilgrimage. It is generally open from 8.30 - 12 and 2 - 6 each day and your duties can be adjusted accordingly.